Report finds medical debt burdens families

More than one in four families experienced financial problems because of medical care costs in 2012, according to a new report.

The National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that levels of financial burden of medical care were greatest for families with:

–Incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
–Children.
–Mixtures of health care coverage types.
–At least one family member was uninsured.

The report did not provide a state-by-state breakdown. It was based information from a 2012 national health information survey.

The study found that about one in six families reported having difficulties paying medical bills in the past 12 months. Of those having problems, one in 10 families couldn’t pay their medical bills.

“The family perspective is important to consider when examining financial risk because significant expenses for one family member may adversely affect the whole family,” according to the report. “Health insurance coverage is one way for a family to mitigate financial risk associated with health care costs, although health insurance status may differ among family members.”